48 replies to this topic

[claret0000]

Hi,

I'm currently a little confused by all the conflicting stories regarding Citizenship etc. I am a British national due to marry my Turkish partner of 4 years this summer. We also have a 6 month old boy together.

I have held residency for the past 12 months but have lived in Turkey for 3 years now. Unfortunately my savings are now coming to an end so I am left with the dilemma of what to do about working. I can't work here legally at the moment but obviously don't want to miss the first years of my sons life by travelling over when UK work holidays allow.

My main question really is does having a dependant of Turkish Nationality, and being married to somebody of Turkish nationality give me any exceptional circumstances to apply for some sort of fast track citizenship?

If there is anybody out there with and advise or experience in this area your help would be massively appreciated.

Many Thanks in advance.

Edited by claret0000, 06 March 2010 - 08:05 PM.

[Debbie]

Hi Claret...

I have been looking into this subject myself, and found quite a bit of conflicting info....

As far as I can gather having Turkish dependents doesnt count but being married to Turkish Citizen does.... I was under the assumption that if you were married to a Turk for at least 3 yrs and you had been living here 3 yrs and you have held a residence permit for at least the last yr then you could apply........ or if not married then you have to wait 5 yrs...

I have now been told on another forum that because Im married to a turk for more than 3 yrs I can apply immediately after only living here for past 3 months, but I must have at least 1 yr residency permit,

I have checked the Turkish Consulate web site and this is what it says-

APPLYING FOR TURKISH NATIONALITY:

According to Turkish Nationality Act (numbered 403), a foreigner should meet the following requirements in order to apply for Turkish nationality.

*He/She should be at the age of consent according to his/her national law (if he/she is not a citizen of any country, Turkish law is taken into consideration which requires 18 years old as the age of consent).
*He/She should reside in Turkey for the last five years and should have the intention of settling in Turkey (This condition may not be applicable to those who are married to a Turkish national or those who are with Turkish origin).
*He/She should be in good health.
*He/She should speak Turkish.
*He/She should have enough financial resources to support himself/herself and his/her family in Turkey.

If you meet the conditions above, you can apply to obtain Turkish nationality

I posted my findings on the other forum and was told that the information was for a foreigner applying for citizenship (I thought I was a foreigner) and as I was married to a Turk the requirements are different.... I was told that I only have to have been married for at least 3 yrs not that I have had to have lived in the country at all......

So looks like all I have to do is pay the hefty sum for a 1yr residence permit, try to learn more Turkish because I know they ask you some questions in Turkish and bobs your uncle......

[sunny]

I'm afraid I haven't heard of any fast track. You can normally apply once you have been married 3 years even if you are not living in Turkey while those not married to Turks have to be resident for 5 years.

Turkish consulate information.


Here is information about work permits.

[Fil]

You're right, there is a lot of information that is unclear, ambiguous, contradictory, regarding lengths of time, documents, language requirements etc. If you ask at the office responsible for receiving your application, the nufus dairesi, they will give you definite information, they are the ones who will accept your application and check that you fulfill the basic requirements. I started the procedure myself a month ago.

[Abi]

Hi Claret, I have attached a link titled Turkish Citizenship Law 5901, it's a bit wordy as you would expect.

http://www.unhcr.org...d/4a9d204d2.pdf

Fil Good luck with your application, I'm sure you will fly through it

[Debbie]

........Ok I think I have it now

At least I dont have to fork out the hefty sum for a one yr residence permit .....do I....
Could I make my application using my 3m hols visa...

Anyone got any ideas how much it is to apply....

It may be worth applying just so I dont have to do visa runs or pay an hefty sum for residence permits and also Ill be able to work.....

[sunny]

I'm trying to remember from when I did it in 2007 and I've a feeling that I needed a residence permit as I was living here.

[Fil]

When we went to enquire at the nufus dairesi the first question they asked was how long have you been married, so that sounds like the starting point. Then they gave us a list of routine documents to produce which we duly did, like birth certificate, passport, res permit, aile cuzdanı, photos, proof of my earnings. There was a fee of 100TL, the translations cost 125TL. We are waiting to be called to the family interview. Certification of Turkish language proficiency and good health are not required for applications based on marriage, it seems.

[sunny]

[[Certification of Turkish language proficiency ]]

Well that has changed since I did it 2006/2007 as I had a language test in Izmir.

[Fil]

I suppose the family interview may function as the test of Turkish, or they may require one further down the line, or it may be different now.

[HobbitTR]

Does anyone know?

I no longer have my annual residence (ikhamet) since I retired, I just go to Meis every 3 months. I searched the pdf document
http://www.unhcr.org...d/4a9d204d2.pdf

which was very helpful but am not sure if the 3 month tourist permit is sufficient now? I have been here almost 10 years and married to a Turkish woman for 8 of them.

Still not sure if I want to become a Turkish citizen or not. Any comments on the pros and cons of that?

[Debbie]

Hi Hobbit

Well becoming Turkish Citizen enables you to work, in your case not much good now you have retired..... I suppose the biggest benefit to you would be not having to bother renewing you 3m visa and the costs incurred with that....

Because you are living in the country as far as Ive been advised you would have to obtain a residence visa again and have at least 6m left on it when applying for your citizenship, as long as you have been married to your wife for a least 3yrs (which you have) and you feel your Turkish language is sufficient for the Interview, there's no reason why you couldn't apply..

[HobbitTR]

Debbie

Thanks for the comments. Fil however, wrote " Certification of Turkish language proficiency and good health are not required for applications based on marriage, it seems." Can anyone confirm this or was this just at her nufus? The pdf does not state either way.

[Debbie]

Sorry Hobbit....... I missed that from fil..... that's interesting though.

I'll wait to see if anyone comments.... must admit its been one of the things that have put me off in the past even thinking about applying seeing as though my Turkish isn't that good (just my own opinion)

[Fil]

Is the interview a language test or a general interview checking suitability? From what I hear, it is the latter, because various different officials are present, there is no language tester (although maybe an official from the min of ed has that role). That is why the whole family (the fil calves as well) are invited, to show that we are a genuine family and that I want the citizenship for good reasons, as well as checking that the applicant has some ability to communicate in Turkish, and I can do more than that.

As far as I understand the new rules, people who are applying for reasons other than marriage have to actually produce a certificate and evidence that they have attended a course of more than 100 (?) hours at a certified language school, as well as a medical certificate from a hospital.

Edited by Fil, 09 March 2010 - 06:33 PM.

[sunny]

[[Is the interview a language test or a general interview checking suitability]]

I would guess it's both.
When I was given an appointment (2007)I don't think it was actually called a language test and as we don't have any children I can't comment on that except to say that none of the other 5 or 6 couples had any children with them.
I think the 2009 amendment says to the effect that the marriage must be a genuine one.

There were about 6 or 7 people in the room including the Vali and the Eminiyet Mudur and an army officer. I have no idea if there was anyone from an education or language department. I presume that as they were Turkish they felt adequately qualified to test someone's level of Turkish.

Having a reasonable level of Turkish is still a requirement even if you are married to a Turk.

[scoobydoo]

I applied for citizenship in July 2008 and part of my application was that I had to produce a certificate to show I was proficient in Turkish. I took a test at my local "Halk Eğitim' where at the time i was enrolled in a Turkish course. The test was easy, just simple conversation and I had to read a leaflet out loud and of course, pay!

I've also had my final interview back in October - that took all of 90 seconds in the Vali's office with a police officer and two other people present. The only person who asked my any questions was the big man himself and it was just simple questions in Turkish about me. I'm not married to a Turk so can only report on what I've heard from friends who are - they all say the interview was easy to get through.

Since then I've chased up my answer letter and been told I need to provide further information for their files - arrggghhh!!!!!

[sunny]

Thanks for the update.

I hope you soon get a positive result Scooby.

[Abi]

Good information Scooby, hopefully in a couple of months you will be the proud owner of a kimlik

[Natalie57]

Hi All,

I submitted all my papers etc in November 2009. I applied on the basis of marriage.

In december 2009 I had a home visit by the Jandarma in my area. They asked a couple of questions and then went away. I invited them in for tea and they never accepted!. LOL I wanted to show them my turkish tea making skills.

In January 2009 we received a telephone call to go for an interview in Aydin. We went and there were about five other couples there.

My husband and I got called into the room where there was numerous people ( like sunny mentioned). They spent more time talking to my husband then me!

When they did talk to me, I answered in Turkish. The whole thing was over in five minutes. Got told to wait for a letter telling us to pick up my kimlik.

I never had to have a health examination, maybe this is because I had the blood tests when we were married.

The nearest I got to a physical was submitting my fingerprints.

I have noticed that when it comes to residency visas the process seems to differ depending what province you are in. maybe the same is with citizenship.

My residency visa runs out in May so hopefully the kimlik will come before then, if not I will have to review the visa.

Hobbit - I did hear something but I am not sure if it is true. If you a foreign male applying for citizenship and you get it. it makes you eligible for military service. Don't quote me on this though as it is purely hearsay.